We must never forget, nor stop, the march toward equality

That truth, reminded to Helene Wilson of Pottstown by her grandmother, inspired the group of 50-some area residents who boarded a bus at 4:30 a.m. Saturday to march with thousands in Washington, D.C. Their bus ride was to join a commemoration of the 1963 civil rights march in which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the legendary “I Have a Dream” speech.

Wilson, then 13 years old, stood on the National Mall with thousands of others inspired by King’s words on Aug. 28, 1963. On Saturday, now 63, she stood there again, this time part of a rejuvenation for the ideals of civil rights and unity.

“We came because we wanted to take a leadership stance for unity,” said the Rev. Vernon Ross, pastor of Bethel AME Church, which organized the bus trip. “We still believe that there is a lot of work to be done and we recognize that need.

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“We want to be able to share this experience with our young people and to tell them, not only about today, but 50 years ago.”

“We need to do a better job of encouraging the parents and motivating the children. Our future is with the children and we need to really get them educated and involved in wanting to make a difference,” Wilson said.

Ross said Saturday’s rally was so important because two of the major issues 50 years ago were jobs and equality.

“Our young people need to understand that many have given their lives and their time to make sure that there are jobs today, but there is still a lot of work to be done.”

Others on the national stage echoed the call for work still to be done: “This is not the time for nostalgic commemoration,” said Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of the slain civil rights leader. “Nor is this the time for self-congratulatory celebration. The task is not done. The journey is not complete. We can and we must do more.”

Eric Holder, the nation’s first black attorney general, said he would not be in office, nor would Barack Obama be president, without those who marched.

“They marched in spite of animosity, oppression and brutality because they believed in the greatness of what this nation could become and despaired of the founding promises not kept,” Holder said.

The emphasis Saturday was on unfinished business in the realm of civil rights.

The speakers focused on voting rights, equality for women, African-Americans, minorities and immigrants, as well as the need to lower rates of violence in communities.

We are a nation that elected its first African-American president, then stripped away a key provision of the Voting Rights Act.

We are a nation that endured more than a century of minorities fighting for equality and yet some individuals continue to face racial prejudice.

“In 50 years, we have come a long way, but all the speeches mentioned that we are going backward in many other ways,” Wilson said.

Saturday’s march was an opportunity to join in a recommitment to the cause of equal rights.

The lessons of history need to be understood. Saturday’s march was a chance to commemorate a piece of that history; the challenge now is for all of us to go forward together and not repeat the mistakes of the past.